The Boat Rocker

A delicious satire. . . . One of the most unsettling books about the moral dimensions of modern journalism. -The Washington Post Both entertaining and thought-provoking. . . . A powerful vehicle for the truths of our times. -The Boston Globe It feels like a miracle-and a splendid irony-that an immigrant writer can fashion a novel with such quintessentially American themes from the front lines of the Chinese diaspora. -The Seattle Times Savage satire. . . . [Ha Jin] is a writer of simple yet powerful gifts. -The New York Times Book Review Arguably Ha Jin's most political-and funny-novel yet. -New York Convincing as well as timely. . . . [Has] a powerful moral core. -The Christian Science Monitor The narrative framework is fertile ground for Jin's brilliant and nuanced political and social observations. -The Seattle Times Jin's criticism of modern-day Communist China is stunning, easily the best part of an already well-crafted novel. I was reminded of 1984 and the passages Winston and Julia read aloud from The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism. -Nandini Balial, Los Angeles Review of Books Ha Jin only gets better and better. In The Boat Rocker he continues with his supply of unadorned prose, as evocative as Chekhov's. . . . But he also draws us, so gently that we hardly notice, into some very deep questions, first about Chinese-American identity, then about identity for any person, and then about the value and the risks, for anyone, of living with integrity. -Perry Link Page-turning but profound. . . . The twists and turns of Danlin's fight with Haili make The Boat Rocker a compelling read, but Jin's insight into nationalism, patriotism and the true cost of freedom of the press gives the novel depth and brilliance. -BookPage Jin's conceit is intriguing, even ingenious, and he dazzles with every scene in which his reporter is confronted by hostile forces. . . . Bracing and absorbing, at its heart lurks a chilling message: 'Truth depends on how you shape and present it.' -The National Laugh- out-loud funny while being as illuminating as ever. -Kirkus Reviews (starred) National Book Award-winning Ha Jin uses sly, black humor to underscore the high price of integrity, the consequences of betrayal, and the power of the written word. -Library Journal (starred review) Takes aim at exploitative novels and international relations. . . . Ha Jin's prose is always pleasurable to read. -Publishers Weekly